Parshas Shelach: Tzitzis as the Uniform of Avdei Hashem

AI summary (may contain mistakes)

Rashi, citing Rav Moshe HaDarshan, ties the eight strands of tzitzis to eight days from leaving Mitzrayim to the shira, yet we celebrate the crossing of the Yam on Shvi'i shel Pesach. Counting from the shechita of the Korban Pesach, when we became avdei Hashem, gives eight, and tzitzis is the uniform of an eved Hashem. The Vilna Gaon matches the 39 krichos to the 39 melachos, and Tosfos brings a Midrash that resting from them on Shabbos recalls Yetzias Mitzrayim. Rashi adds that Shem merits tzitzis.

Key points

• Rashi, citing Rav Moshe HaDarshan, ties eight tzitzis strands to eight days before the shira.
• The meforshim count the eight days from shechitas Korban Pesach, not from leaving Mitzrayim.
• Slaughtering the seh, the avodah zarah of Mitzrayim, made us avdei Hashem before we left.
• Tosfos in Menachos calls tzitzis a sign on Yisrael that they are avdei Hashem.
• The Vilna Gaon matches the 39 krichos of tzitzis to the groupings of the 39 melachos.

In this shiur

1. 0:00Rashi on the eight strands
2. 2:13The question from Shvi'i shel Pesach
3. 4:31Counting from the Korban Pesach
4. 8:24Gemara Menachos on white and techeles
5. 12:46The Mekoshesh Eitzim and tzitzis
6. 15:42The 39 melachos in the Mishnah
7. 17:20Tosfos on Shabbos and Yetzias Mitzrayim
8. 19:23Rashi on Shem and Yefes

Topics

• Tzitzis
• Parshas Shlach
• Eved Hashem
• Yetzias Mitzrayim